Cellulosic containers



June 23, 1964 J, MEYER 3,138,316

CELLULOSIC CONTAINERS Filed March 26, 1962 F e. l. Fl 6, 2, ,16 ,22 I6 2' 22 7 n a v/ |2 L g9 5 l B 6 l3 1 2! ,5 l5 5 l7 l5 rn ,|4

9 l to 19 25 INVENTOR.

HAROLD J. MEYER United States Patent 3,138,316 CELLULOSIC CONTAINERS Harold J. Meyer, 624 E. 'Losey St., Galesburg, Ill. Filed Mar. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 182,182 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) This invention relates to improvements in cellulosic containers, more particularly to improved cellulosic containers designed for efficient transportation of floral products.

A major object of the invention is to devise a very economical cellulosic container particularly adapted for use in the transportation of floral products which is characterized by a high degree of static and dynamic stability during transportation in delivery trucks or other vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to devise a simple, economical cellulosic container or transportation package in which the basic stability of the container under tilting loads is markedly increased above that of orthodox containers of equivalent capacity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strong, rugged cellulosic container which is virtually non-tilting under overhanging loads imposed by objects, such as flowers, which are placed therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel transportation carton of cellulosic material having integral, stabilizing flaps or extensions to provide a sup: port base of enlarged area without diminution of the effective cubical capacity of the container.

In order to more clearly explain the underlying principles of the invention an illustrative embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a blank of paper board stock prior to its assemblage into carton form.

FIG. 2- is a top. plan vieW'of the assembled carton.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled carton.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of a carton of modified shape. w M

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a modified carton.

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the carton shown in FIG. 5.

The cartons or containers producible under the invention may be fabricated most economically from readily available paper board stock and preferably from two ply corrugated paper board. As is shown in FIG. 1 the ultimate carton is formed from a blank B of such stock of selected size or dimensions. In the illustrative embodiment such blank is shown as being square; typical sizes employed in the florist trade, for example, may be 12" x 12", 15" x 15" and 18" x 18". However, larger and smaller sizes may be utilized and, as will be appreciated, the blank may be of oblong rather than square configuration with commensurate change in the shape of the final assembled carton.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 1, at its upper section the blank is cut along the lines 1 and 2 and at the opposite section along the lines 3 and 4 which said out lines are normal to the upper and lower edges of the blank. At one side the blank is out along the severance line 5 and on the diametrically opposite side along the severance line 6. The lines 5 and 6 may be of any contour such as the channel shape or U-shaped configuration as shown, or the like. Such severance lines may be established by using suitable cutting dies to cut the blanks either singly or in a stack of a plurality of blanks.

The upper portion of the blank is scored or otherwise imposed to form the fold lines 7 and 8 extending laterally from the side edges of the blank to the inner ends of the severance lines 1 and 2 respectively. Similarly, the lower portion of the blank is scored to form the fold lines 9 and 10 extending from the side edges of the blank ice to the inner ends of the severance lines 3 and 4 respectively. The side portions of the blank are also scored to establish the fold line 11 on one side and the fold line 12 on the opposite side. 1

The facile assemblage of the thus treated blank into a unitary basically stable carton will be readily appreciated.

In assembling the carton the sides of the blank are bent upwardly along the fold lines 11 and 12 to establish side walls 13 and 14 perpendicular to the base or bottom panel 15 of the blank and integral therewith. As will be appreciated the provision of the severance lines 1, 2, 3 and 4 establish, together with the score lines 7, 8, 9 and 10, terminal foldable flaps 16 and 17 on one side and flaps 18 and 19 on the opposite side. These flaps are folded inwardly along their respective fold lines and into overlapping relationship, as shown in FIG. 2 to form reenforced end walls or panels of the carton structure. The overlapping flaps 16 and 18 are stapled or otherwise secured together and the overlapping flaps 17 and 19 are similarly secured together to complete the wall structure of the carton. It will be observed that the cut or severance lines 5 and 6 provide for the establishment of flaps 20 and 21 on opposites sides of the carton. As will be seen these flaps are integral with and lie in the plane of the botton panel of the carton and in effect constitute a lateral integral extension of the bottom of the carton beyond the confines of the side walls.

In the carton unit depicted in FIG. 2 the bottom and top edges of the cooperating overlapping flaps are in alignment with the bottom edge of each flap contacting or being closely adjacent to the contiguous upper face of bottom panel 15. This provides for a truly rectangular carton. However, if desired, the shape of the carton and its effective capacity for reception of floral products for transportation or display may be increased by the simple expedient of stapling the overlapping flaps at each end at various positions of angularity in the manner shown in FIG. 4.

As will be observed from an inspection of FIGS. 2 and 3, the assembled carton provides a unique unit characterized by a high degree of static and dynamic stability under conditions normally incident to the transportation of floral displays or arrangements in which latter much of the weight of the display overhangs the vase or other container in which the flowers are arranged. As will be observed from an inspection of FIGS. 2 and 3 the effective stabilizing base area of the novel carton is very measurably greater than a conventional carton of equivalent capacity and much greater than the base area of the vase or other flower container which is to be transported in the described novel carton. It is to be observed that the bottom panel of the carton projects, as integral aligned extensions 22 and 23, well beyond the end walls of the carton and that similarly the flaps 20 and 21, which are rigidly integral with the base panel, extend a substantial distance beyond the side walls of the carton. The structure, therefore, in a sense is, a type of cantilevered carton which has an inherent lateral stability of a carton of much greater base area. This increase in stability is achieved without sacrifice of the effective capacity of the carton.

As noted hereinbefore the novel carton of the invention is of special utility in the florist trade. Much of this trade involves the arrangement of individual displays, floral pieces and the like and the local delivery of these by truck or other vehicle to homes, hospitals, hotels or other places. In such transportation due to jolting, jarring, sudden stopping and the like which is incident to such vehicular delivery the vases or other containers in which the flowers are arranged may be jostled, tilted or completely tipped over resulting in disarrangement of the display or spilling of the floral contents which necessitates time consuming rearrangement before delivery. Since the esthetic value of such floral assemblies or compositions depend to a great extent on the arrangement of the floral components any disturbance or dislocation of the original arrangement is sedulously avoided by the florist. The present invention provides a very cheap and eflective transportation package or carton for such floral pieces and obviates the described disadvantages heretofore encountered.

In use the vase, canister or other receptacle in which the flowers are arranged are merely inserted in an assembled carton of appropriate or commensurate size and the whole unit is transported in the usual manner. In such transportation the extensions 22 and 23 in conjunction with the lateral flaps 20 and 21 establish a broad and stable support base thus preventing tipping or spillage of flowers as so often occurs in florists deliveries.

In some circumstances it may be desirable to reduce the length of the base extensions 22 and 23 to conserve space or for some other purpose. This may readily be done in the manner clearly shown in FIGS. and 6. As there shown the blank B may be cut to provide the tabs 24 and 25 projecting beyond the terminal edge of the extensions and also with the cut slits or slots 26 and 27 in vertical alignment with the tabs. The bottom of the blank may be scored to provide the fold line 28. In such structure the outer portion of each extension 22 and 23 may be folded upwardly in the position shown in FIG. 5 and the tabs 24 and 25 inserted into their corresponding aligned slits 26 and 27 and stapled or otherwise secured to the end walls of the container. In many cases stapling or other permanent fastening need not be resorted to since the inherent resiliency of the reentrant portions of extensions 22 and 23 are suflicient to insure a firm frictional locking engagement of the tabs within their cooperating slots. It will be noted that the structure shown in FIG. 5 not only provides a broad stable support but also materially increases the structural strength of the carton in its end areas.

While a preferred modification of the invention has been described it will be understood that this is given didactically to illustrate the underlying principles of the invention and not as limiting its useful scope except as such limitations are imposed by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A floral transportation and display carton comprising a unitary cellulosic container embodying a base panel and integral side walls, said side walls being formed at each end with inturned flaps, the flaps at each end of the carton being secured in overlapping relationship to form the end walls of the carton, said base panel being provided with integral extensions at each end and at each side which extensions project a substantial distance from the corresponding end and side walls of the carton.

2. A floral transportation and display carton in accordance with claim 1 in which the integral extensions of the ends of the base panel are of the same width as the base panel and in which the side extensions of the base panel are of less width than the height of the side walls.

3. A floral transportation and display carton in accordance with claim 1 in which said end extension of the base panel is formed with a reentrant section interlocked in the said overlapping flaps of the end walls.

4. A paper board transportation and display carton comprising a base panel and integral side walls, the side walls being provided at each end with a flap and with a flap intermediate its ends which said second flap is integral and continuous with the base panel, the flaps at each end of the carton being secured together in overlapping relationship to the corresponding flaps on the opposite side wall, the side and end walls constituting a box-like carton from which the base panel extensions project to form a base of greater bearing area than the area confined within the said side and end walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,747,980 Kondolf Feb. 18, 1930 2,895,696 Mergenthaler July 21, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 120,512 Austria Dec. 27, 1930 127,911 Austria Apr. 25, 1932 

1. A FLORAL TRANSPORTATION AND DISPLAY CARTON COMPRISING A UNITARY CELLULOSIC CONTAINER EMBODYING A BASE PANEL AND INTEGRAL SIDE WALLS, SAID SIDE WALS BEIN FORMED AT EACH END WITH INTURNED FLAPS, THE FLAPS AT EACH END OF THE CARTON BEING SECURED IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP TO FORM THE END WALLS OF THE CARTON, SAID BASE PANEL BEING PROVIDED WITH INTEGRAL EXTENSIONS AT EACH END AND AT EACH SIDE WITH EXTENSIONS PROJECT A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE FROM THE CORRESPONDING END AND SIDE WALLS OF THE CARTON. 